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  Vehicle control system including multi-vehicle controller using vehicle code learning index and related methodsUSPTO Application #: 20050222720Title: Vehicle control system including multi-vehicle controller using vehicle code learning index and related methods Abstract: A vehicle control system is for a vehicle including a vehicle data communication bus extending throughout the vehicle and may include a plurality of user control devices, and a first controller at the vehicle for generating a data bus code on the bus from among a series of data bus codes based upon a respective user control device. Each data bus code of the series may have a common function portion and an identity portion that is different for each respective user control device. Moreover, a second multi-vehicle controller at the vehicle may compare a data bus code on the bus with a vehicle code learning index to determine the vehicle from a plurality of different vehicles. The index may include possible data bus codes each including a respective common function portion for each different vehicle with a don't care condition specified for each identity portion. (end of abstract)
Agent: Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist P.A. - Orlando, FL, US Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick USPTO Applicaton #: 20050222720 - Class: 701002000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, And Relative Location, Vehicle Control, Guidance, Operation, Or Indication, Remote Control System The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050222720. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of control systems, and, more particularly, to control systems and related methods for vehicles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Vehicle security systems are widely used to deter vehicle theft, prevent theft of valuables from a vehicle, deter vandalism, and to protect vehicle owners and occupants. A typical automobile security system, for example, includes a central processor or controller connected to a plurality of vehicle sensors. The sensors, for example, may detect opening of the trunk, hood, doors, windows, and also movement of the vehicle or within the vehicle. Ultrasonic and microwave motion detectors, vibration sensors, sound discriminators, differential pressure sensors, and switches may be used as sensors. In addition, radar sensors may be used to monitor the area proximate the vehicle. [0003] The controller typically operates to give an alarm indication in the event of triggering of a vehicle sensor. The alarm indication may typically be a flashing of the lights and/or the sounding of the vehicle horn or a siren. In addition, the vehicle fuel supply and/or ignition power may be selectively disabled based upon an alarm condition. [0004] A typical security system also includes a receiver associated with the controller that cooperates with one or more remote transmitters typically carried by the user as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,242 to Sassover et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,215 to Drori. The remote transmitter may be used to arm and disarm the vehicle security system or provide other remote control features from a predetermined range away from the vehicle. Also related to remote control of a vehicle function U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,966 to Lambropoulous et al. discloses a remote keyless entry system for a vehicle. The keyless entry system permits the user to remotely open the vehicle doors or open the vehicle trunk using a small handheld transmitter. [0005] Unfortunately, the majority of vehicle security systems need to be directly connected by wires to individual vehicle devices, such as the vehicle horn or door switches of the vehicle. In other words, a conventional vehicle security system is hardwired to various vehicle components, typically by splicing into vehicle wiring harnesses or via interposing T-harnesses and connectors. The number of electrical devices in a vehicle has increased so that the size and complexity of wiring harnesses has also increased. For example, the steering wheel may include horn switches, an airbag, turn-signal and headlight switches, wiper controls, cruise control switches, ignition wiring, an emergency flasher switch, and/or radio controls. Likewise, a door of a vehicle, for example, may include window controls, locks, outside mirror switches, and/or door-panel light switches. [0006] In response to the increased wiring complexity and costs, vehicle manufacturers have begun attempts to reduce the amount of wiring within vehicles to reduce weight, reduce wire routing problems, decrease costs, and reduce complications which may arise when troubleshooting the electrical system. For example, some manufacturers have adopted multiplexing schemes to reduce cables to three or four wires and to simplify the exchange of data among the various onboard electronic systems as disclosed, for example, in "The Thick and Thin of Car Cabling" by Thompson appearing in the IEEE Spectrum, February 1996, pp. 42-45. [0007] Implementing multiplexing concepts in vehicles in a cost-effective and reliable manner may not be easy. Successful implementation, for example, may require the development of low or error-free communications in what can be harsh vehicle environments. With multiplexing technology, the various electronic modules or devices may be linked by a single signal wire in a bus also containing a power wire, and one or more ground wires. Digital messages are communicated to all modules over the data communications bus. Each message may have one or more addresses associated with it so that the devices can recognize which messages to ignore and which messages to respond to or read. [0008] The Thompson article describes a number of multiplexed networks for vehicles. In particular, the Grand Cherokee made by Chrysler is described as having five multiplex nodes or controllers: the engine controller, the temperature controller, the airbag controller, the theft alarm, and the overhead console. Other nodes for different vehicles may include a transmission controller, a trip computer, an instrument cluster controller, an antilock braking controller, an active suspension controller, and a body controller for devices in the passenger compartment. [0009] A number of patents are also directed to digital or multiplex communications networks or circuits, such as may be used in a vehicle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,262 Sinniger et al. discloses a multiplex bus system including a master control unit and a plurality of receiver-transmitter units connected thereto. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,772 to Leung discloses a power bus in a vehicle controlled by a low current digitally coded communications system. Other references disclosing various vehicle multiplex control systems include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,275 to Sato et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,092 to Roggendorf et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,783 to Burgess et al. [0010] Several standards have been proposed for vehicle multiplex networks including, for example, the Society of Automotive Engineers "Surface Vehicle Standard, Class B Data Communications Network Interface", SAE J1850, July 1995. Another report by the SAE is the "Surface Vehicle Information Report, Chrysler Sensor and Control (CSC) Bus Multiplexing Network for Class `A` Applications", SAE J2058, July 1990. Many other networks are also being implemented or proposed for communications between vehicle devices and nodes or controllers. [0011] Unfortunately, conventional vehicle security systems for hardwired connection to vehicle devices, such as aftermarket vehicle security systems, are not readily adaptable to a vehicle including a data communications bus. Moreover, a vehicle security system if adapted for a communications bus and devices for one particular model, model year, and manufacturer, may not be compatible with any other models, model years, or manufacturers. Further, if a vehicle security system is capable of operating in different vehicles, it may still be cumbersome to configure such systems for different vehicles. [0012] One particularly advantageous approach for enabling after-market vehicle controllers for use in different vehicles having vehicle data communication buses is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,551, which is assigned to the present Assignee and is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Generally speaking, this approach involves determining a desired set of data bus codes to use from among a plurality of possible sets of data bus codes for different vehicles based upon signals or codes on the vehicle data communication bus. For example, these codes may be generated by a factory installed vehicle component, such as BCM, as discussed above. [0013] Despite the advantages of this approach, it may be difficult to determine what vehicle a system is installed in using codes on the data bus where the vehicle allows numerous remote transmitters to be used therewith. That is, the different remote transmitters cause different data bus codes to be generated on the data bus, because such codes have respective remote transmitter-identity portions uniquely identifying a given transmitter. Thus, the potential universe of codes that must be examined to determine a particular vehicle becomes extremely large, and may thus be difficult to maintain and store. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multi-vehicle control system that is relatively easy to install and related methods. [0015] This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a vehicle control system for a vehicle including a vehicle data communication bus extending throughout the vehicle. The system may include a plurality of user control devices and a first controller (e.g., a body control module (BCM), remote keyless entry (RKE) controller, ignition token reader, etc.) at the vehicle for generating a data bus code on the vehicle data communication bus from among a series of data bus codes and based upon a respective user control device. Each data bus code of the series may have a common function portion and an identity portion that is different for each respective user control device. [0016] Moreover, the system may further include a second multi-vehicle controller at the vehicle for comparing a data bus code on the vehicle data communication bus with a vehicle code learning index to determine the vehicle from among a plurality of different vehicles. The vehicle code learning index may include a plurality of possible data bus codes each including a respective common function portion for each different vehicle with a don't care condition specified for each identity portion. [0017] Accordingly, the multi-vehicle controller may advantageously be installed in numerous vehicles, and it may be relatively quickly and easily configured to operate in a given vehicle with little effort on the part of the installer. Moreover, because don't care conditions are specified for the identity portion of all of the possible data bus codes, the entire series of data bus codes for each different vehicle need not be stored or compared to the received data bus code, thus conserving memory resources. [0018] More particularly, the series of data bus codes may be a series of vehicle door lock or unlock codes, for example. Also, the second multi-vehicle controller may be switchable to a learning mode for determining the vehicle. For example, an installer may switch the multi-vehicle controller to the learning mode during installation. By way of example, each of the user control devices may be an ignition token or a remote transmitter. For the ignition token, the codes may be codes providing authorization to start the vehicle engine. [0019] The second multi-vehicle controller may further include one or more memories connected to the second multi-vehicle controller for storing the vehicle code learning index. It may further include a download device for downloading the vehicle code learning index, as well as a bus interface for connecting the second multi-vehicle controller to the vehicle data communication bus. [0020] Additionally, the vehicle control system may further include an alarm indicator and at least one vehicle security sensor positioned in the vehicle. The second multi-vehicle controller may cause the alarm indicator to provide an alarm indication based upon the at least one vehicle security sensor. [0021] A vehicle control method aspect of the invention is for a vehicle including a vehicle data communication bus extending throughout the vehicle. The method may include generating a data bus code on the vehicle data communication bus from among a series of data bus codes and based upon a respective one of a plurality of user control devices. More particularly, each data bus code of the series may have a common function portion and an identity portion that is different for each respective user control device. The method may further include comparing the data bus code on the vehicle data communication bus with a vehicle code learning index to determine the vehicle from among a plurality of different vehicles. The vehicle code learning index may include a plurality of possible data bus codes each having a respective common function portion for each different vehicle with a don't care condition specified for each identity portion. Continue reading... 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